Multiple analyses argue that China’s ability to reform and adjust policies is constrained by what they describe as “self-perception” blind spots. The articles contend that Beijing may misread its own strengths, weaknesses, and the impact of its policies, leading to gaps in how challenges are understood and prioritized. While the sources use similar framing, they generally focus on internal limitations in diagnosis rather than on any single external event. The core claim is that reforms require accurate assessment of domestic and systemic conditions, and that persistent blind spots can slow or distort that process. Both pieces emphasize that a mismatch between how China views itself and how conditions on the ground evolve can undermine the effectiveness of proposed changes. The discussion is presented as an analytical critique of decision-making and institutional learning, suggesting that better calibration of internal understanding would be needed for reforms to be more substantive.